If you're visiting town on Sunday 27 April, you're sure to notice the hordes of sweating runners being egged on by enthusiastic crowds – it's the annual Hamburg Marathon, when some 25.000 people run 42 kilometres and 125 metres through the city centre. The marathon is popular with runners for its flatness, but mainly for the excellent atmosphere, with hundreds of thousands of people partying along the route. Both the start (at 09:00) and finish (between 11:00 and 15:00) are next to the Messe (fair) halls beside the Planten un Blomen park, just west of the centre. Winner of the men's race 2007 was Rogers Rop, with a time of 2:07:32. The 2007 women's winner was Ethiopian Ayelech Worku, in 2:29:14. More information: www.marathon-hamburg.de.